Mount reshaping apparatus



NOV. 20, 1951 R L 2,575,771

MOUNT RESHAPING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnv'enborAr hhur' P. RusseLL,

b8 MC- K 25 His A*l:=t'orne 1951 A. P. RUSSELL MOUNT RESHAPING APPARATU;

Filed April 1, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnven lrov: Arthur P. RusseLL,

His A t' torneg.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 MOUNT RESHAPING APPARATUS Arthur Page Russell,Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application April 1, 1949, Serial No. 84,827

(Cl. Mil-71.6)

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing cathode supportingassemblies or mounts for electric discharge devices, and moreparticularly to apparatus for reshaping the assembly or mount to eiiecta rearrangement of the cathode.

The invention relates still more particularly to automatic apparatus formanufacturing cathode assemblies in accordance with the method disclosedin patent applications Serial No. 84,884, Norman E. Kewley, and SerialNo. 84,788, Jack M. Coughlin, filed concurrently herewith and assignedto the same assignee and which provide for the attachment of the cathodein one position on the mount and the subsequent rearrangement of saidcathode to a second position. The method permits adaptation ofpreviously employed and highly successful methods of mounting cathodesto the manufacture of a particular mount structure wherein the cathodeis arranged in a position which is not within the practical limits ofsaid prior method.

One object of my invention is to provide apparatus for reshaping a mountof a discharge device, which apparatus is capable of effecting a 90degree displacement of the cathode. The apparatus is particularlyadapted to bend the leading-in wires of the mount so as to rearrange acathode held initially in a position transverse to the longitudinal axisof said mount into a position in alignment with said axis.

Another object of my invention is to provide mount reshaping apparatusadaptable for incorporation in combination with other automaticallyoperated apparatus providing for the advancement of the mountsuccessively to a plurality of work stations and providing suitabledriving means timed with theadvancement of the mount. The apparatus hasan automatically repeated cycle of operation clearing it from the pathof movement of the mounts between work stations after operative periodsand performing the rearrangement of the cathode in a manner avoidingdamage thereto and interference between parts of the mount. Suchapparatus provides for the manufacture of a mount having the cathodearranged substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereofby automatic apparatus incorporating certain features of previouslyemployed apparatus and with the onsequent retention of the advantages ofuniform, efficient and economical manufacture of such apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a species thereof and from theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing,Fig. 1 is a planview of mechanism comprising my inventionshowing its arrangement at two adjacent work stations along a path ofmovement of the mount; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are corresponding perspectiveviews, on a larger scale, of the mount and certain operating elements ofthe apparatus during successive steps in the course of manufacture; Fig.5 is a side elevation of the apparatus developed from a section takentherethrough along line 5-5, Fig. 1, when viewed from the directionindicated; Fig. '6 is a corresponding side elevation of the bendingmechanism of the apparatus occupying the first of the two reshaping workstations taken by the mount; Fig. 7 is an end view of the anvilconstituting an element of the bending mechanism; Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of a curling mechanism occupying the other work station; andFig. 9 is a perspective view of actuating means of the apparatus. r

The apparatus shown in the drawing is adapted to be associated with orincorporated in other mount-making means advancing the partiallycompleted mount l in turn to each of a number of work stations includingthe two work stations A and B and providing a constantly rotated camshaft driving the apparatus in proper synchronism with the advance ofsaid mount I. The apapratus is mounted along a course of movement of themount I, indicated by the dash-dot line 2, and comprises the bendingmechanism 3 located for the most part to one side of work station A andthe curling mechanism 4 located below and along said course at workstation B. The bending mechanism 3 and the curling mechanism 4 are alsoadapted to arrangement at one work station and in that instance aresuccessive- 1y operated. A table (not shown) provides the means ofsupporting the apparatus in proper operative relation with the positionstaken by the lower end of the mount l which is arranged so that theinner portions of the leading-in wires 5 and 6 and the coiled filamentor cathode I are lowermost. "The table separates the apparatus from thecam-actuated operating means (Fig. 9) located directly below. Theadvancing or conveying means and cam shaft can be that of themount-making apparatus disclosed in Patent 1,907,532, J. Flaws, Jr., ofMay 9, 1933, which is assigned to the present assignee, or preferably acombination of said apparatus and elements of the mount-making apparatusdisclosed in Patent 2,380,742, J. Flaws, Jr., dated July 31, 1945, whichis correspondingly assigned. The above-referred to apparatus providesmovable conveyor or carrier means 'fOr holding the mount 1 in anorientated position in which the cathode I is lowermost and theleading-in wires 5 and 6 to which said cathode I is attached, are in theplane of the course of travel. The means for supporting the mount I isherein represented by the jaws 8 and 9 which effect their supportthrough engagement with the vitreous exhaust tube III extending from thevitreous stem I I, the principal supporting element of the mount I.

The cycle of operation of the reshaping apparatus is initiated uponarrangement of the mount I at station A when a movement of the bendinganvil I2 and the adjacent bending-fingers I3 and I4 of the bendingmechanism 3 carries them into operative relation to the mount I'. Theanvil I2 and fingers I3 and I4 occupy positions to one side of thecourse of travel of the mount I, to provide clearance for movement ofthe mount to and from work station A, and are" supported indirectly bythe slide I5 which'is held by the bracket I6 and arm -II extending fromthe table I8 (only partially shown) of the complete mount-makingapparatus of which the apparatus shown is a part. The positioningmovement of the anvil I2 and the bending fingers I3 and I4 is introducedthere,- in by movement of the slide I5, which is located below retainingplates I9 and 26 in ways in the bracket I6, and corresponds directly tothat of the slide I5 inthat said anvil I2 is mounted, as shown in Figs.1, 5 and 6, upon a block 2I pivoted about a pin 22 carried by theforward end of said slide I5 and in that the fingers I3 and I4 aremounted upon jaws 23 and 24 respectively pivoted about the stud 25extending from the upper surface of said slide I5. Actuation ofthe slideI5, in turn, depends upon the movement of the sub-slide 26 locatedwithin ways in said slide I5, which sub-slide 26 is connected by link 21to the operating lever 28 of the bending mechanism, and transfersmovement to the slide I5 through pressure against the'helical spring 29which is located between the end of the sub-slide 26 and a portion ofthe slide I5. A strap 30, extending across the end of the slide I 5 andblocking movement'of the block 3| located on sub-slide 26-, prevents theexpansion force of the spring 29 from effecting separate movement in theslide I5.

The bending mechanism 3, like allother portions of the apparatus,effects the proper timing of its operations because of the timedfunctions of the operating means (Fig. 9), which means is driven by thecam shaft 32, the main driving means of the complete mount-makingmachine. The presently considered advancing movements of the anvil I2and fingers I 3 and I4, for instance, are effected by the rotation ofthe cam shaft 32 which turns a-portion of the cam 33 into engagementwith the roller 34 on lever 35, causing an upward movement of saidroller 34 and the adjacent portion of the lever 35. This motionis,in-turn, transferred to the operating lever 28 of the bendingmechanism 3 through the connecting rod 36 connecting the opposite end oflever and one end of the lever 28. Both lever 35 and operating'lever 28turn about fixed points, the former about the pivot shaft 37 mounted onbrackets 38 (only one shown) extending from the lower surface of the.table I8, and thelatter about the pivot pin 39 held by bracket I6, and

effect a direct transference of motion. The roller 34; which" lieswithin a groove 40 within the face of the cam 33, is restricted in itsmovements by the confines of said groove 4 which is spaced at variousdistances from the cam shaft 32 at different points about theoam 33. Atthe par- 4 ticular moment when the bending mechanism 3 is held in aretracted position, to allow the introduction of the mount I to stationA, the cam shaft 32 is turning a portion of the cam 33 having aconcentric portion of the groove M into engagement with the roller 34;whereas, in the directly succeeding interval during which thepositioning movements of said bending mechanism 3 occur an outwardlytracking portion of the groove 48 is carried into engagement with saidroller 34. Each cycle of operation of the apparatus is brought about byone revolution of the cam shaft 32 and accordingly each portion of thecycle and the operations within said portions are initiated by arespective portion of the rotation of said shaft 32.

The operative period of the apparatus consumed in bringing the anvil I2and bending fingers I3 and I 4 to operative relation to the mount I alsocauses the adjusting finger 4i, located on the opposite side of saidmount I, to initiate its cycle of operation. The finger 4| performs thefunction of adjusting the end of the leading-in wire 5 to a positionslightly out of alignment with the longitudinal axis of the mount I sothat the succeeding operations of the bending mechanism 3 can bend theends of both leading-in wires 5 and 6 inward toward each other withoutinterference therebetween and without unduly kinking the cathode Iextending therebetween. To perform this function, the finger M, which ismounted directly opposite the leading-in wire 5, is caused to swingabout its supporting pivot pin 42 sufiiciently to deflect and bend saidleading-in wire 5 slightly out of its normal plane. This operationoccurs when the movement of the slide I5 has progressed to such anextent that the end of the arm 43, located beyond the forward end ofsaid slide I5, is brought into engagement with the lower end 4! of thefinger 4i and pressure thereagainst turns finger ii about the pivot pin42. The finger ii is turned against the contraction force of the helicalspring 44 extending between the posts on the upper end of said finger 4!and the upper portion of the support arm 45 and takes no other movementin that the support arm 45, which also holds pivot pin 42, is attachedto the side of the stationary support standard 43 for the curlingmechanism 4 located at station B.

. Still another operation occurs during the advance of the slide I5, theoperation being a lowering movement of the bending anvil I2 which occurswhen said advance is being completed. The lowering motion of the anvilI2 is for the purpose of positioning the bottom surface 4! thereof atthe point along the length of the leading-in wires 5 and 6 where thebend is to take place and, since it takes place when the movement of theslide I5 is almost complete, is brought about after said anvil I2 haspassed between the leading-in wires 5 and 6. At that time, the lowerportion of the support block 2I for said anvil I2 strikes the stop screw48 (Fig. 6) on the arm 49 extending from the stationary bracket I6 andthe block 2I is tilted downwardly against the resisting force of thecompression spring 53 located between it and the end of slide I5. Theblock 2I is hinged upon the pin 22 and, until engagement with stop screw48 is eifected, is tilted upward to the extent allowed by the shoulder5I on the end of the slide I5.

At the moment when the anvil I2 and the bending fingers I3 and I4 arecompletely positioned in operative relation to the mount I and zpz-smr a5. the-adjusting ringerv 4i has-completed its operation, the motion ofthe slidewldis interrupted by the. engagement of the stop screw 52(Fig. 1) on anear 53 thereof with the stop block 54 attached to theupper edge of the stationary bracketiii. The bending function occurs. inthe directly following interval when the bending. fingers .I 3 and llmove toward. eachother and, by so doing, wipe the ends of theleading-in wires 5 and 6 across and up against the lower surface of thebending anvil I2. This particular bending operation is also broughtabout by the movement of .the oper ating lever 28 under the influence.of the operating means as said movement presentlyeifects a separatemovement of. the cam 55 which is engaged by the supporting jaws 23 and24 for the fingers I3 and I4. Rollers 56 on theends of the jaws 23 and2'; have heretofore been located within relatively closely spaced endsof diverging channels 5? within the cam 55 and are carried 2 by theseparate movement of the cam 55 into more widel spaced portions of thechannels 57 whereby said jaws 23 and 24 are caused to close on eachother. The cam 55 is mounted at a fixed position on the block 3! carriedby the sub-slide 2s and takes the movement of said sub-slide '26 whichis introduced therein directly from operating lever '23 and which can,at present, effect onlya"separate movement of said sub-slide 26 withinthe'ways of slide "[5 and a further compression of the spring 29. Thebending fingers 3 and i l effect their contact with the leadinginwires 5andi'i through rollers 58--5'8 mounted thereon and cause said wires 5and 6 to take a right'angle bend at the edge of the bottom sur face i?of the anvil T2. The center of the cathode l'pat'such times, is twistedupward into cavity 59 (Fig. 7) in the bottom of "the anvil i2, takingthe shape shown in Fig. 3.

The succeeding operations of the bending mechanism 3 are thoseseparating said'mec'hanisni "from the now partially reshapedmount occurin a reversely duplicated series of operations like those described.These disengaging operations of the bending mechanism a are broughtabout bythe return motion of the 'operating lever 28 and effect, inturn, the outward swingo-f the bending fingers l3 and 1'4, a raisingmovement in the anvil 12, andthen the complete retraction of the anvil'l 2 and said bending fingers l3 and M. The adjusting finger =4! swingsback to the position shown in the course of the above operations whenthe arm 43 is withdrawn from contact therewith by "the retraction 'ofslide I5.

The raising movement of the anvil 1'2 prior to its retracti'on movementassists in causing its disengagement from the leading-in wires "5 and 6and avoids any possibility of said wires 5 and (i being pulledsidewardout of position by the retracting movement of saidanvil 12. Thepositionof leading-in wire '5 isnot materially changed bythewithdrawa'lof the adjusting'finger M and remains slightl offset fromleading-in wire 6 so th'atno interference occurs-between their ends.

The following indexing movementof the mount r i produced by the supportmeans therefore advances said mount I. along dash-dot line 2 to station13 and into effective range of the operations of the curling mechanism 4located thereat. The indexing movement passes the mount I over thelength of the curling spindle Bil of said mechanism 4, which is thenlocated below the course of movement as shown in Fig. 8, and is completewhen said mount l is positioned just clear of the endofsaid curlingspindle 60. "Subsequently occurring operations of the apparatus providefor the upward movement of the curling spindle 60 whereby the mandrel 6iextending through thesicenter thereof is brought to a positionoppiositea.anid-portion. of leading-in wire 6. This function iofrthemechanism 4. arranges the curling spindle 60 and associated elementsthereof 'at operative relation to the mount l and is effected through.movementof the supporting slide 62 for said" curling spindle .60 underthe influence of the :sub-sli-defl, which is in turn actuatedaccordingto the rotation of the cam 64 (Fig. 9) of the operating means.The curling spindle 60 is journalled within an extending portion of theslide 62 which is free to operate vertically Within waysin thesupportstandard 46 in which it is held by side plates Gdand presently has thesame motion as the sub-slide 53, as the pressure ofexpansion of spring'56 located above said sub-slidefit in a vertical passage in slide 62keeps the laterally extending ear 6'5 on said sub-slide 63 against'theend shoulder 68 on the slide 62. A link 69 joins the sub-slide 63 to thelever 70 of the operating means which initiates the present motion byturning the cam E i so that the roller Hon one end of lever is iscarried into a portion of the groove 12 located nearer the drive shaft3-2. The curling spindle 58 becomes properly located with respect to themount 1 when the upward movement thereof progresses to the limitestablished bythe engagement of the lug (3 (Fig.5) on the back of slide62 with the stop screw. on the 'lugof support standard 46. Prior to thisoperative period an opening in the standands 4:6 directly behind thecenter of the slide 62 provided clearance for the lug l3 and preventedinterference with the motion of the slide 62.

Next in the orderof operations of the curling mechanism 4 is the advanceof the mandrel 6] longitudinally outward .of the end of the curlingspindle fill and the rotation of said curling-spindle 69, bothoperations of which occur simultaneously. The purpose of the advance ofmandrel Si is to position :it toone "side or" and across the leading-inwire 6 as shown in Fig. 4 so that the free end of said leading-in wire 6can be bent over it by the wiping action of the arcuate movementproduced in pin 15, in eiTect an extending eccentric end portion ofspindle 60, by the rotation of said spindle 60. As shown particularlyinFig. 8, the mandrel 6| extends through the full length of the-spindleand takes a position controlled by the engagement of the lever 16 with aroller "mounted by means of the block 18 on said mandrel 6|. The spindleso, on the other hand, "extends through the full width of the slide 62and takes a rotative position determined by the engagement of the gear19 upon. its outer end with the vertically positioned rack til. Themovements developed in the mandrel 6i and the spindle '60 are the resultof continued upward movement of the sub-slide E3 after motion of slide62 is stopped and are effected by the independent motion of the cam. 8|,which engages the roller 82 extending from lever it, and of the rack:88, respectively, at such times. The independent motion or thesub-slide 53 is absorbed in the further compression of the springbetween it and slide 52 and transfers its motion directly to the cam a:and rack 83) since both are mounted'on the-laterally extending ear 51thereof. Inasmuch as the lever 2'6 associated with the mandrel BI ispivoted upon the stud 83 extending from the now stationary slide 52, itis rocked so as to advancesaid mandrel 61 when the separ'a'te motion ofthe cam 8| advances the offset portion of the channel 84 therein intoengagement with the roller 82. The separate motion of the rack 8i) turnsthe spindle 6B in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the end,so that the offset pin E in said end is carried against the free end ofthe leading-in wire 6 below the mandrel 6i, and bends said end sidewardand then upward to the position shown in Fig. 4. The rack 86 hasheretofore held the spindle 60 at such a position that the upwardpositioning movement of said spindle cc caused the pin 15 to appear uponthe opposite side of the leading-in, wire 5 from mandrel BI and islimited in its movement by the operating means so that the required bendis effected in the leading-in wire 6. In the presently describedinstance, the pin 15 has a circumferential groove 84 therein at thepoint of engagement with the leading-in wire 6 to prevent said wire 6from slipping to one side and is moved by rotation of spindle 653 onlysufficiently to arrange the cathode 1 into the plane of the stem ll.

The return downward movement of the subslide 63 turns the spindle Ell sothat the pin 15 is separated from the now completed mount, retracts themandrel fil into said spindle 60 from its position within the loop inleading-in wire 6 and then lowers said spindle 6i! and associatedelements of the curling mechanism 4 away from said mount. Theseoperations complete the cycle of operation of the curling mechanism andautomatically occur in proper sequence during the return of thesub-slide 63 which remains under the control of the operating means. Thereturn operations are the reverse of those previously described indetail having to do with the bending of leading-in wire 6, and arefollowed by an inoperative period, still under the control of theoperating means, when the completed mount is indexed from station B andanother partially completed mount I is indexed to said station.

What I claimjasnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. Apparatus for reshaping a mount having approximately parallel lead-inwires with a coiled cathode extending laterally across the ends thereofcomprising the combination of means to sup-port said mount and carry italong a definite path to a plurality of work stations; bending mechanismat one of said work stations comprising a bending anvil, cooperatingbending fingers movable toward and away from the anvil from oppositesides, means to support and advance the bending anvil and fingers to andfrom an operative position at said work station to arrange the anvilbetween end portions of the lead-in wires of the mount and the bendingfingers on opposite sides thereof, means for actuating the bendingfingers to cause the said end portions of the leadin wires to be pressedagainst and bent over a portion of the anvil so that said end portionsextend toward each other; curling mechanism at a second stationcomprising a rotatable curling spindle having respectively axially andeccentrically projecting pin portions at one end thereof, means tosupport and advance said spindle to and from an operative positionwherein the end thereof is located adjacent a mid-portion of one lead-inwire of the mount, means for rotating the spindle to cause the eccentricpin to curl and double over one portion of the lead-in wire about theaxial pin to cause the said cathode to extend in substantially the samedirection as the parallel portions of said lead-in wires; and

means to effect the actuation of said mechanisms in proper synchronism.

2. Apparatus for reshaping a mount having approximately parallel lead-inwires with a coiled cathode extending laterally across the ends thereofcomprising the combination of means to support said mount in an invertedposition with the cathode lowermost and horizontal and to carry it alonga definite path to a pluralitv of work stations; bending mechanism atone of said work stations comprising a. bending anvil. cooperatingbendin fin ers movable horiaontallv toward and away from the anvil,means to sup ort and advance the bending anviland fin ers hori ontallyto and from an operative position at said work station to a ran e theanvil between end portions of the lead-in wires of the mount and thebending fingers on op osite si es thereof, means for actuating thebendin fin ers to cause the end nortions of the lead-in ires to bepressed a ainst and. bent over a ort on of the anvil so t at said endportions extend horizontally toward each other: curling mechanism at asecond station and below the path of movement of t e mount compr sing ahorivontal curlin s indle having resoectivelv axiallv and eccentrica lvprojecting pin portions at one end thereof. m ans to su ort said spind eand move it vertically to a position wherein. the end thereof is locatedadiacent a mid-portion of one lead-in wire of a mount, me ns rotatin thes indle to cause the eccentric nin to c rl and double over-one ortion ofthe lead-in wire about the axi l pin to cause the said. cathode toextend. verticallv in substantially the sa e direc ion as t e parallelortions of said lead-in wires: and means to efiect the actuation of saidmechanisms in proper synchronism.

3. Ap aratus for reshap ng a mount having apnroximatelv arallel lead-inwires with a coiled cathode exten ing laterally across the ends thereofcom rising the combination of means to support said mount in an invertedposition with the cathode lowermost and carry it along a deflnite oathto a plurality of work stations: bending mechanism at one of said workstations comprising a bending anvil, cooperating bending fin ers movabletoward and away from the anvil from op osite sides, means to supportand'ad- Vance the bendin anvil and fingers to and from an operativeposition at said work station to 'arran e the anvil between end portionsof the leadin wires of the mount and the bendin fingers on oppositesides thereof, means for act ating the bending fingers to cause portionsof the lead-in wires to be pressed against and bent over a portion ofthe anvil so that said end portions extend toward each other: curlingmechanism at a second station comprising a hollow rotatable curlingspindle having an eccentricallv projection bin at one end, a mandrel pinmovable through the spindle to and from a position wherein it projectsoutwardly of the end of the mandrel, means to support and advance thespindle to and from an operative position wherein the end thereof islocated adjacent the mid-portion of one lead-in wire of a mount at saidstation, means for advancing and then retracting the mandrel pin and forrotating the spindle at the said operative position to cause theeccentric pin to curl and double over the end of the lead-in wire aboutthe mandrel pinto cause the said cathode to extend in substantially thesame direction as the parallel portions of said lead-in wires; and meansto e1- feet the actuation of said mechanisms in proper synchronism.

4. Apparatus for reshaping a mount having approximately parallel lead-inwires with a coiled cathode extending laterally across the ends thereofcomprising the combination of means to support said mount in an invertedposition with the cathode lowermost and horizontal and to carry it alonga definite path to a plurality of work stations; bending mechanism atone of said work stations comprising a bending anvil, support meansincluding a horizontally positioned slide supporting the anvil,cooperating bending fingers pivoted on the slide for horizontal movementtoward and away from the anvil, means for moving the slide toward andaway from the mount to advance the bending anvil and fingers to anoperative position at said work station to arrange the anvil between endportions of the lead-in wires of said mount and the bending fingers onopposite sides thereof, means for actuating the bending fingers to causethe end portions of the lead-in wires to be pressed against and bentover a portion of the anvil so that said end portions extendhorizontally toward each other; curling mechanism at a second stationand below the path of movement of the mount comprising a horizontalcurling spindle having respectively axially and eccentrically projectinpin portions at one end thereof, means to sup ort said spindle and moveit vertically to a position wherein the end thereof is located adjacenta mid-portion of one lead-in wire of a mount. means for rotating thespindle to cause t e eccentric pin to curl and double o er one portionof the lead-in wire about the axial pin to cause the said cathode toextend verticallv in substantially the same direction as the parallelortions of said lead-in wires: and means to effect the actuation of saidmechanisms in proper svnchronism.

5. Apparatus for resha ing amount havin anproximatelv parallel lead-inwires with a coiled cathode extending laterall across the ends thereofcom risin the combination of means to support said mount in an invertedposition with the cathode lowermost and horizontal and to carry it alonga definite ath to a luralit of work stations; bending mechanism at oneof said work stations comprisin a bending anvil, sup ort means includina horizontally positioned slide, means for pivotin the anvil formovement in a vertical plane on the slide, cooperating bending fin erspivoted on the slide for horizontal movement toward and away from theanvil, means for moving the slide toward and away from the mount toadvance the bending anvil and fingers to an operative position at saidwork station to arrange the anvil between end portions of the lead-inwires of the mount and the bending fingers on opposite sides thereof,means actuated by movement of the slide for swinging the anvil to andfrom a lowered position, means for moving the bending fingers to causethe end portions of the lead-in wires to be pressed against and bentover a portion of the anvil so that said end portions extendhorizontally toward each other; curling mechanism at a second stationand below the path of movement of the mount comprising a horizontalcurling spindle having respectively axially and eccentrically projectingpin portions at one end thereof, means to support said spindle and moveit vertically to a position wherein the end thereof is located adjacenta mid-portion of one lead-in wire of a mount, means for rotating thespindle to cause the eccentric pin to curl and double over one portion10 of the lead-in wire about the axial pin to cause the said cathode toextend vertically in substantially the same direction as the parallelportions of said lead-in wires; and means to effect the actuation ofsaid mechanisms in proper synchronism.

6. In combination with apparatus for supporting and carrying a mountalong a definite path to a plurality of work stations, said mount havingapproximately parallel lead-in wires with a coiled cathode extendinglaterally across the ends thereof and being supported by said apparatuswith the cathode lowermost, a curling mechanism at one of said stationscomprising a hollow rotatable spindle having an eccentrically projectingpin at one end, a mandrel pin movable longitudinally through the spindlefrom a retracted position to an advanced position wherein it projectsoutwardly of the end thereof, movable support means for carrying thespindle to and from an operative position wherein the end thereof islocated adjacent the midportion of one lead-in wire, actuating means forthe support means, means attached to the mandrel pin and controlling thelongitudinal position thereof, a movable cam engaging the last-mentionedmeans, a gear attached to the spindle, a gear rack engaging the gear, ameans for actuating the cam and gear rack to move the mandrel pin to itsadvanced position across the lead-in wire and to rotate the spindle soas to cause the eccentric pin to curl the lead-in wire about the mandrelpin.

7. In combination with apparatus for supporting and carrying a mountalong a definite path to a plurality of work stations, said mount havingapproximately parallel lead-in wires with a coiled cathode extendinglaterally across the ends thereof and being supported by said apparatuswith the cathode lowermost, a curling mechanism at one of said stationscomprising a hollow rotatable spindle having an eccentrically projectingpin portion at one end, a mandrel pin movable longitudinally through thespindle from a retracted position to an advanced position wherein itprojects outwardly of the end thereof, movable support means forcarrying the spindle to and from an operative position wherein the endthereof is located adjacent the mid-portion of one lead-in wire, meansattached to the mandrel pin and controlling the longitudinal positionthereof, a movable cam engaging the last-mentioned means, a gearattached to the spindle, a gear rack engaging the gear, movableoperating means connected to the support means for the spindle andattached to the cam and gear rack for causing actuating movementstherein, and a stop means for interrupting the positioning movement ofthe spindle, said actuating means being arranged to thereafter actuatethe cam and gear to move the mandrel pin to its advanced position acrossthe lead-in wire and to rotate said spindle so as to cause the eccentriopm to curl the lead-in wire about the mandrel pm.

ARTHUR PAGE RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,894 Otaka Sept. 1, 19311,907,532 Flaws May 9, 1933 2,297,950 Flaws Oct. 6, 1942 2,327,033 FlawsAug. 17, 1943

